Need Based Aid

Saint Mary's College General Scholarships: $1,000-$28,000 annually.

These need-based grants depend on student demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Other endowed scholarships have additional criteria, such as geographic qualifications or ethnic heritage (e.g., Joseph David Cardoza scholarship for students of Portuguese descent).

Merit scholarships are awarded to first-time freshmen based on academic achievement, including GPA, test results, and rigor of curriculum. These awards are renewable for an additional three years of continuous full-time study and contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. Students do not need to apply separately for merit scholarships; consideration is automatic with a complete application to the college. The total of merit scholarships cannot exceed Saint Mary's College tuition. Students who receive the combination of the Presidential and Lasallian Leadership scholarships may not compete for any other merit awards. If the combination of merit scholarships and Cal Grant or the Tuition Exchange award exceed tuition, the merit scholarship will be reduced.

Lasallian Leadership Scholarship: $13,000 annually

For first-year applicants from Lasallian high schools with an academic GPA of 3.5. Recipients are also eligible to be considered for other merit scholarships.

Transfer Merit Scholarships

Transfer Honors at Entrance Scholarships: $14,000 annually

Effective for the spring of 2014, transfer students entering with 30 or more transfer academic semester units or the equivalent and a 3.5 college GPA at the time of acceptance will receive this award, which is renewable annually given satisfactory academic progress. Students do not need to apply separately for the award; consideration is automatic upon application to the college.

Awards are worth $13,000 per year awarded to entering first time freshman for each of four years of consecutive full-time study.

Applicants must submit all application materials (Common Application, high school transcript, a letter of recommendation, ACT or SAT scores on or before the application deadline of January 15.

See below to find which scholarships require a separate application. These application materials must be submitted via email to [email protected] on or before noon, Jan. 15, 2015.

Invited applicants must interview or compete on campus on February 21, 2015 with faculty from their department of interest. (Overnight accommodations may be available on Friday, February 20 provided two weeks’ notice is provided.) The college may be able to assist in travel costs to students outside of Northern California; inquire at [email protected] for more information.

An essay (<500 words), describing the applicant’s interest and qualifications for the scholarship

Two letters of recommendation from teachers and/or others addressing the applicant’s qualifications

A DVD or online portfolio of original work (video as well as artwork of other digital or traditional mediums

A list of software skills

A list of any relevant video media art projects including titles, duration's, and synopses.

Expectations:

The recipient must major in Art Practice and is expected to annually contribute in several capacities to the Art & Art History Department. Such contributions may include working closely with a faculty member as a production or research assistant on a video or media arts project, coordinating screenings of student video work, leading the department’s art club.

Saint Mary's College Department of Mathematics and Computer Science invites applications for the Brother Dominic Barry Mathematics scholarships. Each scholarship is awarded in the amount of $13,000 annually and is renewable for four years. The scholarships will be awarded to the two highest scorers on the Math Problem Solving Competition to take place on the afternoon of Saturday, February 21, 2015.

Following the competition, there will be an opportunity to participate in fun math events and share dinner with current Saint Mary's math majors.

Students interested in participating in the Scholarship competition must sign up before February 14, 2015.

Students who take part in the scholarship competition must have complete applications and will have their application fees waived.

English Department Scholarship

Application Materials:

Two letters of recommendation, one to be written by the applicant’s junior or senior year high school English teacher.

Two essays. One explain (<750 words) why the applicant wishes to major in English; the second (1000-1750 words) analyzing a literary text. Applicants may also include an example of their creative writing.Expectations:

The recipient must major in English, and contribute to English Department activities. Such contributions might include assisting with the department website, working on the literary magazine, or helping to organize English Club events.

Integral Program Scholarship

Application Materials:

Two letters of recommendation from individuals testifying to the applicant’s interest in the Integral Program

A portfolio illustrating a commitment to inquiry based on the reading and discussion of primary texts. Applicants are invited to be inventive in constructing their portfolios.

Expectations: The recipient must be an Integral major, and contribute actively to the department’s work. Such contributions might include assisting with the department website, assisting with student recruitment, and organizing departmental events.

Saint Mary’s College offers $13,000 tuition-remission scholarships in music, dance and theater to incoming freshmen. Awards are renewable for four years, and are merit-based for demonstrated artistic excellence. Auditions for the upcoming terms can be found at the performing arts department website. Contact the Director of your program of interest for more information.

Physics Scholarship

The Physics department offers two $13,000 per year scholarships to incoming students based on an exam. The hour-long exam is designed to test a student’s creative problem solving skills. It cannot be studied for or prepared for and does not test specific knowledge of Physics – we seek students who have the ability to think outside the box and examine problems from multiple perspectives.

Score a 600 or better on the math sub-section of the SAT, or a 26 on the math sub-section of the ACT

Come to campus on Saturday, February 21, 2015, to take the exam and meet our professors

Politics Scholarship

Application Materials:

A letter of recommendation from an individual testifying to the applicant’s interest in politics

A personal essay (<750 words) addressing the applicant’s interest in politics and providing evidence in the form of personal experience, study, service, or career expectations

Expectations:

The recipient must major in politics and contribute actively to the Department’s work. Such contributions might include assisting faculty research and teaching activities and organizing department events.

Why are you interested in pursuing the academic study of theology and/or religion and related topics that most interest you

Providing evidence of such interest in the form of personal experience, study, service, or career expectations.

Describing why Saint Mary’s College would be a good place to pursue the study of theology and/or religion.

Two letters of recommendation addressing your intellectual interests in studying theology and/or religion: at least one from an academic professional (e.g. teacher or guidance counselor)

Expectations:

The recipient must major in Theology & Religious Studies and contribute actively to the Theology & Religious Studies department’s work. Such contributions might include organizing events for students or the larger community, engaging in research with the faculty, leading study groups, and/or assisting with the department’s website.

Wilder Business Scholarship (Accounting and Business)- Please note that we are no longer accepting candidates for the Wilder Business Scholarship

The School of Economics and Business Administration encourages students to “Think Globally, Lead Responsibly”. In that spirit, we offer a $13,000 per year scholarship to one highly qualified first-year student. To be eligible, students must major in Business Administration or Accounting and interview on campus during Scholarship Saturday (February 21, 2015). Students can self-nominate by filling out the self-nomination form and applying to the college before the January 15th deadline. Selected students will be invited to campus to interview during Scholarship Saturday on February 21. Not all students who self-nominate will be selected to interview.

Mentored Access to Programs in Science Scholarship (MAPS)

Saint Mary's MAPS Scholarship program offers full tuition for four years of consecutive full-time study. If selected to interview, students can compete for a MAPS scholarship and a Math or Physics scholarship on February 21, but they must choose between Math and Physics. Additionally, if a student receives a MAPS scholarship they are not eligible to receive a Math or Physics scholarship as well, as MAPS covers full tuition, but if they interview for and are not selected for a MAPS scholarship, they may receive a Math or Physics scholarship

Criteria:

Must major in Math, Physics, Chemistry or Biochemistry (Biology and 3+2 Engineering students are not eligible for a MAPS scholarship)

Continuing Student Scholarships:

Jan Term Travel Scholarship

Scholarship assistance is available for students who would otherwise be unable to afford a January Term travel course. The 2014 Jan Term Travel Scholarship Application is due September 16th by 4:30pm to the Financial Aid Office. No late exceptions.